Alice Eve 'lucky' with Star Trek 2 casting

The 'Sex and the City 2' actress - who will play an as yet unknown character in the J.J. Abrams sequel - admits it is a "great pleasure" to take part in the eagerly anticipated movie, which begins shooting today (12.01.11).

She told MTV News: "I feel incredibly lucky. I would say it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It's not once-in-a-lifetime, but it is rare.

"It's one of life's great pleasures to enjoy the group you work with, because we all know what it's like when you don't."

The blonde beauty - who is one of a number of new actors to be cast in the film, including Benedict Cumberbatch and Noel Clarke - is excited to get to work because there is a lot of "energy" on the project.

She added: "When there's a group of people who you can spend time with and work with and get to know, a real good experience, it's kind of like going back to university or something, when everyone has got the same objective.

"There's a lot of energy, and it's a nice thing to be a part of that group. That's the thing that excites me most about it. Obviously, there is a huge legacy there with 'Star Trek' and the fanatics, so hopefully they'll be satisfied."

The sequel reprises the roles of Chris Pine and James Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Commander Spock, and is set to be released in May 2013.